Medical Sales Recruiter - Tips & Quips » Career Coach

Career Coaching To Land a Medical Sales Job – Why You Need It

the medical sales recruiter — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:59:01 +0000

Are you a strong candidate but you’re just not getting enough interviews? Or the right interviews? It’s a common problem. Job searches are always tough, but our current unemployment numbers mean that you have even more competition than before.

The job search is a numbers game, which means that if you apply for enough positions and talk to enough people, you’ll land a job–eventually. But how much time do you have?

Watch the video and I’ll tell you about what my particular brand of career coaching can offer you: not career counseling, but true candidate coaching that teaches you the practical skills of how to present yourself in the very best light, and more importantly, how to get yourself in front of a large number of exactly the kind of hiring managers you need, in exactly the geographical location you’re interested in.

Get more information about custom career consulting and job search training.

Article courtesy of Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Recruiter at the nationally
recognized medical and laboratory sales recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
© Copyright 2008 PHC Consulting | All rights reserved

No related posts.

Career Coaching: Do Men See It Differently Than Women?

the medical sales recruiter — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:19:40 +0000

You know what I’ve noticed lately? Most of my career-coaching clients are men. Out of the last 26 career coaching/interview coaching/job search advice sessions I’ve conducted, 19 clients were male, and 7 were female. I know that doesn’t represent the gender ratio within the medical sales field, so what gives?

Do females invest in their careers less than males? Do females prefer to seek help from male advisors rather than female ones? Do men have less of an issue than most people would believe about accepting career help from a female advisor?

I’ve written before about the lack of female medical sales managers (and I believe there are too few women leaders in all business and political sectors), but this is a different issue—or is it? I previously said that women were less likely (for various reasons) to play politics and participate in the networking necessary for climbing the ladder, and that women don’t support each other in the workplace all that well—yet. But maybe another reason is that they aren’t investing in their careers by seeking mentors, sharpening skill sets, or hiring a career coach in order to put themselves in the best possible position for advancement.

Does the stereotypical image of a female candidate accepting a lower salary or unwilling to ask for a raise extend to the idea that she won’t invest in herself as a candidate? Are women simply less competitive than men—which means they don’t go after every advantage they can get?

Is it that women rely more on conventional methods of skill-building (classes, certifications, etc.) instead of slightly out-of-the-box ideas like interview coaching? Does it seem riskier to them? Men are notorious for being more willing to take risks in all areas of their lives, so maybe that explains their seemingly increased willingness to try something new.

Here’s what I think: If women really are less confident in the workplace, it makes sense that they should seek out someone to interact with to build their candidate skill set and confidence. If women can’t find a mentor the “traditional” way, hiring a career coach who climbed the medical sales corporate ladder as a female and can speak from personal experience in the trenches sounds like just the ticket. And if women value their careers, they should be willing to invest in themselves, sharpen their skills, take a few risks, and step on up to success.

Career coaching works to eliminate any flaws you’re unwittingly bringing to the hiring process, and polishes your job searching and interviewing skills to a shine. If you’re a better candidate, you’re going to get a better job, and you’re going to do it much faster…which translates into a better work environment, a better paycheck, and a better life.

Check out how career coaching can transform you into a powerhouse candidate and help you land the job of your dreams!

No related posts.

Interview Coaching for Medical Sales Interviews

the medical sales recruiter — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:38:21 +0000

The medical sales arena is the top tier of sales positions in the workforce. Because the area is so varied, exciting, and lucrative, many, many candidates are vying for those jobs. So, if you want to land a job in medical sales, you’re going to have to bring your “A” game.

Every point-of-contact with a medical sales hiring manager (or the HR department) is a make-or-break one. Each one is a “weeding” opportunity for them: your resume, your cover letter, your online presence, your phone interview, and your first interview. They’re looking for a reason to throw your name out and narrow down the field to make their jobs easier.

In response to that, the smart candidate will prepare, refine their job search and interview techniques, and give it all they’ve got. But there’s one other trick you could have up your sleeve: your own personal interview coach.

Why an interview coach? Well, the best-of-the-best are competing for these jobs. Think of it like the Olympics (the job interview competition). Yes, Olympic athletes have talent, but what else do they have? They have excellent coaches who fine-tune their skills and get from them that extra few seconds that make the difference between a really talented athlete and an Olympic champion.

How does that translate into your job search? A great interview coach will

take into account your individual history and talents and show you how to shape them into job-winners for you.
customize your resume and 30/60/90-day plan.
help you construct compelling, individualized answers to standard interview questions so that you’ll stand out in a big way.
help you figure out what makes you unique in the job market.
help you improve your closing skills so that you can ask for the job (a critical skill).
show you how to negotiate your job offer.

The real beauty of individualized interview coaching is that it’s customized. It’s whatever you need it to be. You’ll discuss that with your coach, who can also point out things you weren’t even aware of.

What are the biggest things to keep in mind? Find a coach who’s an expert in your field, who knows what the hiring managers in it are looking for, and who is excited to be on your team. Make sure you’re comfortable working with your coach, too.

It’s difficult to get a job in medical sales, but it’s not impossible. Find a coach who can help you reach your goals.

I offer interview coaching for medical sales candidates, but you don’t have to work with me. Find someone you’re comfortable with and make the investment in yourself. It will be worth it.

No related posts.

What to Look for In a Great Medical Sales Interview Coach

the medical sales recruiter — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:22:43 +0000

Today’s job search is unlike any we’ve seen before. Competition is especially fierce for medical sales jobs in this economy, and candidates get weeded out quickly. If you’ve landed the interview, you need to bring your best game right off the bat and knock the socks off the hiring manager. One of the most effective ways to become an all-star candidate is to hire an interview coach. Individualized coaching takes your personal work history and talents into account and customizes solutions for you.

How do you find a great interview coach? Look for someone who specializes in medical and health care sales with lots of experience. Look for testimonials from other clients, and take advantage of the consultation that they (should) offer. If you find someone with the right credentials that you feel you can work with comfortably, you’re good to go.

What should you look for? A really great interview coach will get to the bottom of your problem as quickly as possible. They won’t want to waste your time or money, and will be interested in helping you land the job you want. They’ll want to help you identify your goals and pinpoint the areas you need to improve.

You’ll probably get some homework to do on your own, like books to read or specific changes to make to your resume. It’s great if they can help you arrange a job-shadowing experience, and help you incorporate the keywords you’ll gain from that experience into your new resume. And they should help you role-play interview questions.

But the best thing about interview coaching is that it’s personalized. A great coach won’t have a standard plan they make everyone adhere to—they’ll customize the plan to what you need to be a winning candidate, whether you’re in medical devices, laboratory sales, pharmaceuticals, or hospital or surgical equipment.

A good coach won’t make you crazy promises, but he or she will want you to succeed as badly as you do, and will give you the tools, training, and expertise to make it happen.

I offer medical sales interview coaching, but you don’t have to work with me. Research what you can expect from a medical sales interview coach, and make your decision. It’s an investment in yourself and your career that will pay off for you.

No related posts.

Medical Sales Job Interview and Preparation Coaching

the medical sales recruiter — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:44:14 +0000

Did you ever wish you had the “inside track” at your medical sales job interview? Or that you knew exactly how to explain that slightly difficult/embarrassing/sensitive situation in your job history? Or even the very best way to explain who you are and what you do in a compelling, “hire me” kind of way? Maybe you’re getting interviews, but you know that something’s not going quite right because you’re not getting called back for the second one.

What’s your solution?

Hire an interview coach.

Interview coaching is an unexpected alternative for many health care sales candidates. There are so many articles you can find online about job interview preparation (including all the medical sales job tips on this blog) that it can seem just as easy (and cheaper) to just do it yourself.

But, an interview coach can take you beyond what you can accomplish yourself—providing an expert, unbiased insight addressing your individual situation, examining your job history and personality to help you devise the best way to position yourself in the interview, and even role-playing interview questions with you. It’s important that you get one who knows your field and that you’re comfortable working with….but once you do, you’re set. It is an investment, but it’s one that will pay off as soon as you land the job you’ve been chasing.

Maybe you’re not having too many problems but you realize you could be just a little bit better. It’s gaining that extra edge that turns a competitor into a champion. Pro athletes know that—that’s why they hire coaches, too.

Interview coaching can help you with confidence and presence, communication skills, your wording and emphasis in your answers to typical job interview questions. You’ll learn to customize your answers to fit your individual situation and stand out from the “standard” answers everyone else gives. Coaching can also help you master the all-important closing (asking for the job) at the end of the interview.

Don’t spin your wheels trying to handle this difficult job market on your own. Get smart, and get a coach who can help you get on the road to success!

You can check out what I offer as a career coach here: http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/career-coaching/. I’m not saying you have to hire me, but you can get more ideas on what an interview coach can help you with. I’ve helped many candidates land great jobs faster than they could have imagined with just a little career coaching help, and I really believe it’s a great solution for every candidate. Best of luck.

No related posts.

Is “no experience” stopping you from getting your dream job? Listen here.

the medical sales recruiter — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:15:04 +0000

If “no experience” is stopping you from the dream job that you desire?
Listen to this short audio clip about how to overcome this objection…..

Want more job-getting advice? Check out this free training on “How to Get a Better Job Faster”
2: Click here to register for this no charge webinar.
Webinar Signup Here

Also, if you would like you can sign up for our monthly newsletter.

No related posts.

How Interview Coaching Can Help You Get a Medical Sales Job

the medical sales recruiter — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:27:05 +0000

Are you going to interviews, but not getting the offer? Or not even getting called back for a second interview?

Maybe there’s some issue you don’t have a great explanation for: a gap in your employment history, why you’re willing to take a pay cut in a new job, why you’ve been out of a job for so long, or something.

Maybe you don’t even know why–you think you’re doing a great job, but you’re not getting the call back.

It’s time for you to invest in interview coaching. Great interview coaching can help you with confidence, communication, presence, wording, emphasis, and other areas that are stopping you from getting the job offer you want and deserve. It focuses on your particular situation and your individual personality and style to give you the boost you need.

In this video, I’ll give you some examples of how I helped real candidates with roadblocks in their job searches that gave them a breakthrough and got them job offers. And we did it in less than an hour.

No related posts.

Should you hire a career coach to role play some job interview questions?

the medical sales recruiter — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:01:22 +0000

You know the drill for medical sales job interviews: research, prepare, and be ready for the toughest interview questions.

There are some job interview questions for health care sales jobs that inevitably trip candidates up. “What’s your greatest weakness?“ is a famous one. The typical advice you’ll usually find is to prepare for the interview by practicing your answers, and role-play it with a friend (if you’re really serious).

Preparation is key to landing any job in medical device, laboratory sales, or pharmaceutical sales; and role-playing your interview answers is going to do nothing but help you. That’s the truth.

Having said that, I want to suggest that you kick it up a notch: hire a career coach to role play job interview questions with you.

Think of it this way: You will get better at your golf game by going to the driving range or playing a few holes with your buddies–your skills will improve over time with practice and the competition from your friends. But if you were really serious about improving your swing or wanted to get Phil Mickelson good, you’d find a coach.

So how serious are you about your job search?

A coach can help you

construct answers that sell you as a candidate for the most common interview questions as well as the toughest ones.
take your personal history into account so that you don’t answer standard interview questions with the same standard answers everyone else gives–you’ll be memorable.
practice closing the deal (many candidates find this difficult to master–but it’s vital).

Think about hiring a career coach before you go to your next interview. Seriously.

No related posts.

How To Get a Job In Medical Sales If You Haven’t Worked In Sales

the medical sales recruiter — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:15:18 +0000

As a medical sales recruiter, I get almost daily inquiries from people who would like to be in medical sales even though they have no sales background and want to know what they should do. I’m never surprised to get these calls. Medical sales is (I think) the top tier of sales categories, and there are many, many people who want to be involved in it. But because it’s such a desirable career path and so many strong candidates are vying for jobs, competition is tough–which means you’re going to have to be at the top of your game to land a spot.

Landing a job in medical sales is difficult, but not impossible. There are 3 ways you can go (or you can mix and match):

Hire a career coach. An hour will do it for most people, generally split up into short sessions over days or weeks, as you implement the suggestions. It might look something like this:

First 20 minutes: Review your resume, identify your goals, and pinpoint which areas you need to improve. You’ll get a list of sales books to read (so you don’t have to take a class), and we’ll set up a job-shadowing opportunity, if you’d like.

Next 20 minute session: Once you’ve read the books and made your resume changes, we’ll discuss the concepts and review your resume.

Final 20 minute session: We’ll put together a plan for your job shadow, discuss what your goal is, and talk about how to incorporate the keywords you’ll get from it into your resume so that it will get the attention of hiring managers and their Applicant Tracking Systems.

But the best thing about working with a career coach is that it’s personalized. If you need help with another aspect of getting the job, that’s what you’ll concentrate on. You’ll talk about your specific situation, in detail, to determine the most effective steps you can take to land the job.

Get the How to Get Into Medical Sales kit. I have organized everything I’ve learned from the last 15 years in the business into a a step-by-step, comprehensive guide:

* tips and tricks from 15 years of working and placing people in medical sales
* a resume template designed to be your marketing brochure
* a bold and persuasive cover letter
* a technology sheet –your “secret weapon”
* a thank you note that will be another selling tool for you
* A 30/60/90-day plan – you’ll be the most prepared candidate the hiring manager has ever seen

The tools available in this kit are a complete, step-by-step map for you to follow to land your dream job in medical sales.

Work the “Do-It-Yourself” plan.

You can absolutely research what it takes to transition into medical sales from a non-sales background. There are hundreds of articles available right on this blog, and here are some key tips:

Go for a ride-along with a sales rep. See what a typical day is like. Ask questions about the job, find out how to be competitive in the job search and once you get the job. Get a few names to call from labs, doctors, or hospitals they sell to.

Use the field preceptorship (job shadowing) to fill your resume with keywords that will make sure it’s flagged by computerized tracking systems. Your resume should have a sales focus and also highlight your technical background.

Work your professional network. Set up a profile on LinkedIn. Join sales groups like Sales Cafe: Sales Rep Careers to make contacts and gain knowledge.

Improve your sales skills. Read about sales skills and sales call best practices online, and find some books on sales techniques. Watch my YouTube videos for job search advice.

Learn to handle phone interviews. Most initial contacts with recruiters and hiring managers are conducted by phone, because it’s an efficient way to weed out candidates who aren’t going to fit. You must know how to make a good impression so you can land the face-to-face interview.

Learn how to write a 30/60/90-day plan. This is a key element to your job interview process–especially if you have no sales experience. It helps the hiring manager understand that you know what it takes to be successful in the job, and helps him “see” you as a sales rep. A 30/60/90-day plan is a written outline of what you’d be doing in the first 30 days, the first 60 days, and the first 90 days on the job–like training, customer introductions, and going after new accounts. If it’s specific to the company, it lets the hiring manager know that you’ve researched and prepared for THIS job, and you’re very interested in working for this particular company.

It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. I wish you the best of luck.

No related posts.

Career Coaches In Medical Devices

the medical sales recruiter — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:36:38 +0000

If it’s true that 55% of medical device sales professionals will be looking for a new job this year, then odds are good that you might be one of them. Even with the ‘churn’ in the market this year, medical device is a great place to be. There are fantastic jobs available for the right candidate. But, if you’re in the medical device job market, you’ve already realized just how steep the competition is. If you’re going to stack the deck in your favor, you need a career coach.

A career coach can help you

position yourself in the market
wordsmith a difficult situation on your resume
customize your resume and 30/60/90-day plan
sharpen your interview skills with tips and role-playing
negotiate your job offer

A career coach with experience in the medical device sales market is just the source you need to help you navigate your way through a crazily-churning market so you’ll land in the best-possible position with the best-possible company.

No related posts.